A PROPHET IS ONLY DESPISED

PRAYER MOMENT           

          

Friday 1 August 2014, St Alphonsus Liguori  

A PROPHET IS ONLY DESPISED

Pause. Be still in the presence of God.

Reading: “A prophet is only despised in his own country and in his own house.” (Matt 13:54-58)

Reflection. There is a saying that it is not so much the message as the one who gives the message. The message can be perfectly sound and wise but I just can’t take it coming from this person. When Jesus came to Nazareth they did not listen to his words. They simply focused on who he was. “This is the carpenter’s son. Where did he get this wisdom?”  In other words they couldn’t take it that one of their own should appear to be wiser than they were. We have a word for this: jealousy! It is an obstacle to openness and growth. Jeremiah met the same reaction in today’s first reading (26:1-9). “You shall die. Why have you made this prophesy? A person half my age said something inconvenient and challenging to me two days ago and I wanted to forget it, but I am still pondering it!

Prayer. Lord Jesus, help us to be sensitive and receive the movement of your Spirit which blows where it wills.” (John 3:8). Amen..

David Harold-Barry SJ